Jun. 3rd, 2013

Nice day for a stroll.

Apr. 14th, 2013

And more work.

mood: determined

music: 'The Meaning of Love' by Depeche Mode

Really, work is pretty much the only thing I have going on any more.

So the 2012-2013 academic year has ended, and the 2013-2014 year has started. And I once again ended up with more fucking classes than anyone else here. When I got the email saying more classes were being added to my schedule, I blew the fuck up and sent a reply saying that that was bullshit and not fair and they needed to do something to help me out or I was bouncing the fuck out of here (not in those words, per se). All this went down the night before I had to go down to Tokyo HQ for an all-teachers meeting anyway.

I didn't get a reply email, but at HQ the personnel guys pulled me aside for a chat. They said they were sorry, but there was nothing they could do, because the extra classes wouldn't fit into anyone else's schedule because of how the branch school I work at itself set them up. I learned that last year I actually had more kids classes than anyone else in the entire Kanto area, and that this year I also have more classes than anyone else. Probably more than anyone else in the whole fucking company. But, hey, they promised it won't happen again next year.

Then they told me I was getting more money, and that calmed me down considerably. Because, yes, if I'm doing more work than everyone else, then I should be getting paid more than everyone else.

And then the all-teachers meeting happened, and I learned I was named one of the top 10 teachers. When I saw that, my first thought was "What'd I do?" And then I laughed at myself, saying I just had a total Syn moment. Then they gave me cookies.

So that was last week.

Today (well... technically yesterday... Saturday) was the start of this year's kids classes. I had three kids classes today, and between the first two I only knew one student. But my third class of the day was all students I had last year. While I was in the classroom getting the materials ready, I heard a staff member tell the kids that I would be their teacher, and they actually cheered. .o_o

So while I say I'm no good at this job, I guess I'm doing something right.

Jan. 25th, 2013

Updating

mood: sick

I feel like I haven't posted anything meaningful in a while. I blame work.

No, really.

I don't know if I've mentioned here, but my current work situation really blows. Like, remember how I had (literally) three times more work than any of the other native teachers last year? Yeah, it's that all over again. Thankfully it's not quite three times more, but once again, as usual, I have more classes than any of my co-workers, and every time I turn around I'm getting more classes added in to my schedule. I'm now working six days a week, since one of the other teachers here up and left to move to Tokyo (and in return for abandoning her students, she got promoted to Student Care Coordinator - but that's a rant for another day), and some of her classes were pushed onto me as overtime. Then they go and add more kids classes to my schedule. All after I already had more classes than anyone else. And no, nobody else is getting more classes forced onto them. Only me. And every single day, everyone else will have at least one hour - usually more - where they have nothing to do, except me. I don't get a break. I don't even have enough time to eat while at work.

My motto the past few months has been "I don't want to be justified in my anger." Meaning, as much as I don't like my tendency to flip out over nothing, I've come to think it's preferable to having a legitimate reason for being so pissed off all the time. However, in this case, I am justified.

Two of the other native teachers here, of their own accord, have gone to personnel and told them what's being done to me is bullshit. I didn't ask them to, I haven't even complained openly to anyone, but they saw it, and stood up on my behalf, because even they see that this is a really shitty thing to do to someone. It's not just me overreacting; other people are seeing it.

Last week the staff informed me that I would have to do some special lessons this week, and the other night one of the other teachers messaged me saying he would do them for me. And he did, and I'm extremely grateful that for once someone was willing to step up for me.

I keep telling myself things will get better. I can only hope so.

So that's the work front.

On the social front, I amazingly had a friend visit me. It was odd, because this friend has straight up said she wouldn't ever come here (she lives in Tokyo). This friend has traveled all over the fucking world to attend seiyuu events, but absolutely refused to visit a friend just a few cities away. And yes, I have visited her in the past, in Japan as well as when we both lived in California. So when she out of the blue wrote me saying "I need to visit you," I have to admit, I was suspicious. We had a lovely, fun day-and-a-half of hanging out, of course, but I can't help but wonder at the sudden change of heart.

As for games, a co-worker gave me an extra copy of 'Dragon Quest IX', and I've been playing that almost every moment I'm not at work. It's rather fun, and I especially like that the characters are my own created characters. As usual, I become addicted to anything I can customize.

In story news, I posted all of 'Between the Two' over at AFF.net, so if anyone was actually reading it, it's there. I don't know if I'll finish posting it here as well. It seems a bit pointless now, and is a bit more work. I think aside from short side-stories, I'll probably just post everything over there from now on, and link it here.

Which, with that said, I've also posted the first part of the thing I wrote for NaNoWriMo there as well. It's pretty much totally un-beta'ed, as I'm really no good at self-editing, and decent betas don't exist. But... There it is. (And I usually update on Tuesdays, my only day off, for anyone who wants to follow it for some odd reason...)

Over the holiday, I was grabbed by several side-story ideas. I started writing one in one notebook, but didn't take that notebook with me to Kyoto. In Kyoto, while waiting for the bus, I started working on another story on the iPad, but am currently a little bit stuck with that, and only seem to work on it when I have absolutely nothing else to do. Then, a few weeks ago, when I was going out to eat I figured I'd do some writing on the other story I'd started, but when I got to the restaurant I realized I'd brought the wrong notebook. .>_> So I started a new one in the notebook I had with me. ... In conclusion, I'm currently working on three short stories at the same time. I hate when I do that.

And finally, on the dolly front, I'm enjoying the new boy very much. I know I've been sharing pics of him on Facebook and Tumblr, but since I haven't introduced him here, I will. So...

Meet Clay!

Yes, he's that Clay, and no, I don't currently have any plans to get a Nicholai. (But if something perfect is released.............)

Clay's head is a smidgen too big for his shorty short body, which kind of suits him, and I'm absolutely in love with him. Totally enthralled. I want to spoil the bejeezus out of him.

And in dolly story news... I've been in absolutely no mood to take any photostory pictures for months now.

Dec. 30th, 2012

fanderp

mood: exhausted

music: 'Legend' by Junichi Suwabe (Atobe)

First of all, in Kyoto I found an Animate store, and as I picked up a few items, I saw they were doing Tenipuri anikuji. So on a whim I did two anikujis, and ended up winning CDs of Atobe and Kite. XD Of all the CDs they had, I got two of my, like, eight favorite characters. Whee~

And then I lamanted the fact that I wouldn't be anywhere near anything resembling a CD player for several days. Woe! But I've heard them now, and I must say Atobe's is pretty amazing. ;P

So I'm home from my trip, safe and sound and a little bit sick, but overall happy I went. And exhausted. I'll do a little report and post pictures later, but for now I'll just talk about today really quick.

Today I went to Comiket, like I do every winter.

I headed over there as soon as I stepped off the bus from Kyoto, after stopping by a locker to stash my luggage in. It was pouring fucking rain all day, and when I got to Tokyo Big Sight and followed the crowed to the GIGANTIC line for the East Hall, I was miserable and paranoid about my bag getting wet and my iPad getting destroyed. The rain run-off from everyone's umbrellas kept shooting out at tiny me, and the whole time I wasn't even sure I was in the right line. So after an hour of standing there and seeing other people getting in but the line I was in not moving, I went over to a staff person and asked where the line for the East Hall was. Turns out I was in the right line, but since I'd gotten out of line to ask, I had to go to the end of the line, adding another hour at least on to my wait. In the the pouring fucking rain.

I actually wouldn't have been so irritable and pissy if it weren't raining. But after another 20 minutes of standing in the rain, I decided fuck it, I didn't need anything in there that bad. So I left the line again, and was going to just go the fuck home.

I was seriously like a fish swimming upstream, the lone me walking back towards the station against yet more hordes of people heading towards the East Hall line. But then when I got to where the West Hall was, I saw there wasn't really any line at all. I knew the West and East halls were connected inside the building, so I had to wonder if they weren't blocked off or something. Why else would everyone wait outside to get in the East Hall, when they could just go in the West Hall and walk to the East without waiting? It couldn't be that easy... could it?

Well, since I was there I gave it a whirl, and it worked out just fine. I went in the West Hall, with no line and no waiting, and walked on the inside, out of the rain, to the East Hall. It really was that easy, and I can't figure out why the thousands of people waiting outside the East Hall didn't do that (not that I'm complaining).

Then I did my annual bee-line to D-1's booth and bought all the books I didn't have. And since they are very productive, it was quite a few. =O The hot Tezuka cosplayer was there again, and this time they also had a cute Atobe cosplayer, and they were dressed as waiters. X3But other than them, there weren't many other TAT booths. I only saw one other circle's booth; it was a little sad.

I wandered around the rest of the Tenipuri booths, and found these ridiculous things. I looked for Kamen Rider stuff, but there wasn't anything (must have been there on a different day). I got a Sakaki x Atobe doujishi (what? don't look at me like that), and with it they gave me a little fake rose (because they're classy as fuck). I bought a Tyki x Lavi doujinshi that is so porny I had to show my I.D. for them to sell it to me. XD And... I think that's all.

I didn't really stay long, though, and in the end, I don't know how much longer I can continue going. Maybe it was just the rain making it miserable, but it's so troublesome and there are SO many people that I always end up pissed off. We'll see.

Dec. 23rd, 2012

Adventure time again!

Oh, why am I on a bus, you ask? See, two years ago, I just didn't get enough of Kyoto, so I'm going back for more. And since my 2012 New Year's resolution was to go somewhere I've never been before, I'm hitting up Nara while I'm down there. I'm very excited!

Oh, and now you want to know how I'm posting from a bus? Well, it seems every time I go, or even plan to go to Kyoto, I end up with some iProduct. .>_> So, yes, I now have a new iPad Mini. And I'm in love with it. X3. I've named it Hajime, and we were absolutely meant to be. And with him, I should be able to Skype with my family on Christmas, even though I won't be home.

And all this is after buying a new doll. I have been spending way too much money lately. But I've been so stressed and depressed since August, I needed to spoil myself a bit. I've actually been excited about things since planning this trip, and ordering ----, and now playing with Hajime.

I'll say more later, when I'm somewhere with a real keyboard. Until then~ Kansai, here I come!

Dec. 7th, 2012

sidestory 2

mood: lazy

I wrote this a while ago, after researching about raising a blind child. I was a little bit surprised that blind kids actually need to be taught to trace their way around, it's not innate or instinctive. Then I wrote this, but never posted it. Heh.

Title: untitledSeries: as-of-yet-unnamed series that needs a nameCharacters: Kiku, LukaGenre: romanceRating: PGWarnings: So much fluff.

Nov. 29th, 2012

plotting and planning and pining

mood: hopeful

music: 'Kickin' In' by Adam Lambert

Aha... I've officially moved on from saying "When the doll comes..." to "When ---- comes...." I think he just became real. ;P

But anyway.

I was able to buy ---- despite him being limited because I was saving up for ------- and -------, but I guess they'll have to get put off again, for the third time. Surely they will be cursing Rook and Meili when they find out when they were supposed to be here...

So yeah, because I was saving up for others, I had the money in my account, and that's how I got him. But I didn't buy any clothes, wig, or eyes for him when I ordered, because I didn't want to use all the extra money in my account, since it's very troublesome to get money into that account (we're talking my American account here, which is the only account linked to paypal). And why use all the money in that account, when I can just go to actual doll shops here? =D

So the plan is, when ---- comes, we're going to head down to the Dolk store in Akihabara. They let people try their stuff on in the store, so I'll be able to find a nice wig for him, and know it looks good on him before I buy it. And I'll buy him some nice eyes, and probably an outfit of his own, too (he'll be roughly the same size as Luke, so he won't have to be naked when he first gets here, but he deserves something of his own ::nod nod:: ).

Nov. 27th, 2012

Finished!

mood: hungry

There! Officially finished and validated!I proud me.

Now, the story is actually only half done, but I decided I'm not going to finish it right now. I left it off at a good place, with a grand total of 58,411 words, and am calling that "Book One" (for now). I'd really like to upload it somewhere, but.............. first I'd really like to have someone beta-read it. Except that literally every single time I've gone out on the internet and found a beta-reader for something I've written, I've sent them my story, then never heard from them again. So either my writing is that bad, or the internet is full of flakes. So I'm really kind of at a loss for what to do now.

I'd also really like to take up CreateSpace's offer of printing the story as a book, but the "free" offer has to be paid for with a credit card (for shipping or something), and I don't have a credit card. .;_;

Nov. 23rd, 2012

Maybe I'm crazy.

mood: silly

Quote of the day:"And he must have been like 'Don't think about my penis. Don't think about my penis. Don't think about my penis.' Calm down, Harley. She's not thinking about your penis. That's a lie, she probably is."